Water indicator for oil wells



Jan; 2, 1923.

W. L. FOSTER. WATER INDICATOR-FOR OIL WELLS.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l FILED MAY 21. 1921.

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ATTORNEYS.

W. L. FOSTER. WAT|-:R INDICATOR FOR OIL WELLS.

FILED MAY 21. 1921. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Jan. 2, 1923. l 1,440,778

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I N VEN TOR.

ma@ M 77 A TTORNEYS.

W. L. lFGSTER. WATER INDICATOR FoR 01|. WELLS.

Fmao MAY 21, 1921 3 v-sHETS-SHEET 3 Jan., 2, 1923.

FME* t 1 s VEA/TOR.y 'B/l/H//ef fffer ATTORNEYS.

3l HI Patented Jan. 2', 1923i..

I [1,440,778 PATENT' OFFICE.

WALTER L. FOSTER, OF WHITTIER, CALIFORNIA.

WATER INDICATOR FOR OIL WELLS.

Application filed May 21,

To aZZ whom t :may camera.'

Be it known that I, WAI/ran L. FOSTER, a citizen of .the United States, residing at Whittier, in the countyrof Los Angeles and State of'Oalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in a Water Indicator for Oil Wells, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an instrument to locate the level at which water fiowsvinto a well hole, and is especially adapted for usel with oil wells.

' One of the serious diiiculties experienced in oil wells is the flow of water into the well hole. It is common practice to drill well holes, place tubular casing therein extending to the oil strata and to place cement about the casing in order to prevent water from flowing from the water strata into the hole, mixing with the oil being pumped, or entering the oil strata. However in spite of these precautions, water often enters thecasing,

due to various causes, such for illustration, as ,a split in the casing. As Wells of this character are deep and the Water pressure is usually suicient to force the water into the casing to a level close to the surface, it is difficult to locate the point of water inflow. If the water inflow can be located, ythe leakage can be readily stopped.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide an instrument for locating the water inflow. Other objects are to provide details of structure whereby an easily manipulated and positively acting ldevice may -be obtained.

These objects together with other objects and corresponding accomplishments are obtained-by means of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a well showing my indicator in position at the bottom thereof, the indicator being shown partially in section; Fig. 2 is an enlarged section similar to Fig. 1, with the indicator raised above the bottom of the Well; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is an enlarged section partly in elevationof a fragment' of the. indicator; Fig. 6 is an elevation taken at right angles to Fig. 5 showing the current motor and make and break mechanism; Fig. 7 isa section through the make and break showing the pendulum making Contact; Fig. 8 is an en- 1921. Serial No. 471,387.

larged section of Ya fragmentv of the Vmake and break taken at right anglesl to the sechole is cemented by cement 16. This is the i usual construction in oil wells. Water is indicated by 17, this bein-g at the bottom of the well. The indicator is marked 18 and is suspended by a cable 19. Extending to the surface is an electric wire 20A which is connected to a signal lamp 21. A source of electric energy is indicated b 22. This source for the purpose of il ustration is shown as being a battery, whereas in actual practice, it may be found advisable to connect the circuit tothe usualA electric light system. The other side of the battery is connectediby a wire 23 to the casing so that the latter is grounded. It is obvious that by means of the cable 19 the indicator may be raised and lowered.

Referring more particularly to the details of the indicator shown herein, the mechanism is housed in a tubular casing consisting of three sections 24, 25, and 26. These sections are secured to each-other by threads, the section v24 has a bail 2,7 secured to the top thereof for attachment of the cable 19. Mounted inV the bottom y section l 26 are cross pieces 28 and 29 servingas sup"- f ports for a rod 30, to whichthe `packing mechanism is secured. Referring particularly to Figs. 1', 2, 4, and 12,"a closure disk 3l is shown secured to the ro'd`30l' It will be noted from an inspectio'nfoflFig,2"that` rod 30 has a sliding movement"iifthecrossA pieces, this movement beingrlimijte'd bykeysj 32 and 33.' -Vhen key 32 abuts", cross piece"` 28, the rod 30 is in its lower position. key 33 abuts cross piece 29` the/rod 30 is".

in its upper position. The'rd vextends ,bef hereto low the housing and has securedl collar 34 to which springbows i3 "aretatJ-'I'L bows 35 engage the sides thereof, Vand as the indicator is lowered, rod 30 is moved upwardly so as to bring the closure disk 31 against the bottom of the housing and prevent water or liquid from flowing 4there- -5 through. Slidably mounted upon the rod 30 is a spool 37 having extending therefrom wire ribs 38 of umbrella form. Stretched over the ribs is a packing sheet 39 having a water opening at the center. The movement of the spool 37 upon the rod 30 is limited by washers 40 and 41. spring 42 is interposed between the spool and the lower washer 41. 1t tends to hold the spool in its upper position. When the rod 30 is vmoved upwardly inthe housing, the ribs are contracted and thev packing sheet pulled into thehousing as indicatedin Fig. 1. When the rod is in its lower position, the ribs are so disposed that they may expand and the packing is in the position shown in Fig. 2, such that it may engage the well casing. When the indicator is lowered in the well casing, the spring bows 35 engage the casing and force rod 30 upwardly so that the packing is disposed within the housing and disk 31 closes the bore. ln this condition, Water cannot 'pass through the housing but may pass around the edge. When the indicator is lifted, the bows 35 drag u on the well cas- 30 ing, pulling rod 30 outwar ly and allowing the packing to expand closin 'off the flow of water aboutthe edge of the ousing but permittin water to How through the center thereo as will be better understood from an inspection of Fig. 12. llt will also be noted that `water can How downwardly as the ribs may be forced downwardly and inwardly.-

he section 25 of the housing encloses the current motor mechanism, and interposed between it and -section 26 is a screen .43 (see Fig. 5). A similar screen 44 is interposed between sections 24 and 25. Theselscreens are for the purpose of preventing the entrance of sand or detritus into section 25 of the housing. Above screen 43 is the motor base 45. This base consists of a plate ,y having upstanding therefrom ears 46. The

base is secured toa frame comprising a-cylindrical portion 47 and side standards 48.'

5o Bordering an opening in the base 45 are guards 49 or'the motor wheel. This motor wheel is indicated by 50 and comprises buckets adapted to run between the guards 49 to receive water passing through the opening in the base plate. The buckets are so arranged that dowjot water upwardly will rotate the wheel which is mounted upon 'a shaft 51 journalled in. the cylindrical portion ot the frame 47. Mounted upon the'shatt A51is a to bevel gear 52. Mounted upon thetrame is a bearlng'bracket 53, in which shaft 54 is 'journalled the other end thereof being jour? nailed in acrosspiece 55. fThe lowerA end of shaft 54 lhasa bevel gear 56 meshing with bevel` gear 52. The upperend of the shaft income has a bevel gear 57 meshing with a gear 58 mounted upona shaft 59 and having a pinion 60 secured thereto. Pinion 60 meshes with a gear 61. Gear 61 is journalled on a pintle 62 and has secured thereto a ratchet wheel 63. Engaging ratchet wheel 63 is a pawl 64, which prevents rotation of the gear 61 except'in one direction. By this means the vgearing between gear 6l and the current wheel 50 is locked, so that the latter can only rotate by reason of water flowing upwardly through the housing. Mounted upon gear 61 isa crankpin 65. Pin 65 is disposed in the slot of a crank 66, which is secured to the bottom of a case 67. rThe case is tubular in form and closed at the lower end. 1n the upper end thereof is a plug 68, and extending therethrough is an insulator tube 69 to accommodate the electric wire 20. The lower end of the tube is bifurcated and 85 has a pivot pin 7() mounted therein. Susv pended upon pivot pin 7() is a pendulum 71 o' conducting material. The electric conductor 20 is connected to the pivot pin 70 so that the pendulum 71 is electrically connected lto the wire. The upper end of plug 68 is threaded, and mounted thereon is a cap 73. A. packing gland 74 is mounted in the bore of plug 68, thereby providing a li uid seal for the electric wire 20.

otation of gear 61 will cause oscillation of the case 67, and bring pendulum 71 in contact with the case. Case 67 is mounted upon trunnions journalled in the standards 48, the. case being an electrical conductor, and the standard as well as the tubing sections being of electric conducting material. Due to the fact that the well casing'forms a ground for the electric circuit, oscillation ot the case 67 will cause the endulum to intermittently Contact with t e case and thereby make and break the electrical circuit oausing a flashing of lamp 21.

Suppose that water trouble isexperienocd in awell, and it is desired to locate the point at which Water flows into the hole. The indicator 18 is lowered to the bottom of the well as shown in lB ig. 1.. As the indicator is lowered in the wellsbows 35 will engage the casing, forcing the packing 39 into the housing and closure disk 31 against the bottom thereof, thereby preventing water trom liowing through the housing.l Water is now hailed or pumped from the wellhole, so that its level is lowered. This will cause an inflow of water into the hole. There will be a current oi water -ilowing abovelthe point at which water enters the hole, while the water below the point of inflow will be dead. The indicator is now slowly raised, the bows 35 dragging upon the oasingand ,pulling the closure disk from the housin and 'permitting the packing 39 to expan so as to prevent `the 4lfllow of water through, and indicating means actuated by `said motor.

casing. The parts are now in the position shown in Fig. 2. When the packing reaches a point just about the place at which the waterflows into the well, such a place being indicated in Fig. 2, water will begin to flow upwardly through the housin and will rotate the current wheel 50. his causes an oscillation of the case 67, an intermittent contact of the pendulul 71 therewith. The result is an intermittent make and break of the electrical circuit and a iashing of the lamp at the surface. When this occurs, the operator knows that the indicator is at the point of water iniow, TheA length of cable which has been paid out is a'measure of the distance from the surface at which the leak occurs. With this infomation the leak can be remedied` in a manner well known to oil well drillers. It. is obvious that the indicator may be lowered and raised a slight amount after flashing -oi the lamp occurs, in order to accurately determine the point .at which water lows into the Well hole.

It is also obvious that my invention is not limited to the particular type of current motor shown herein, nor to the particular elements of the electrical system.

Furthermore it will be possible ,to' use a.

mechanical signal system, and even a meter to determine the amount` of w ter owmg.

'lhe latter information may be valuablel in certain instances. Variousymechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a housing, packing means on said housing adapted to engage the wall of a well casing and to prevent flow of water upwardly about said housing, there being a' passage extendingthrough said housing and said acking to permit flow vof water through said lousing, a current motor in said hosing operable' by the iow of waterA there- '2. A device of the character described comprising a housing, packing means on said housing adapted to .engage the wall of a well casing and to prevent flow of water upwardly aboutsaid housing, there being a passage extending through said housing and said packing to permit How ofwater through said housing, a current motor in said housing operable by the flow of water therethrough; and an electric circuit including current control means intermittently operated by -saidN'motor and a signal respondent to the current.

3. A device 'of the character described comprising a housing.. packing means on said housing adapted to engage the wall of a well casing and prevent flow of water upwardly l about said housing, there being a passage extending through said' housing and said packing to permit flow of water through said housing, a current motor in said housing 'operable by the ow of water therethrough;

and an electric circuit including a signal and a make and break device operated by said motor.

4. A device of the character described comprising a housing, packing means on said housing adapted to engage the Wall of a well casing and prevent flow of water upwardly passage extending through said housing andy said packing to permit flow of water through said housing, a current motor in said housing operable by the flow of water therethrough; an electric circuit including a signal, an oscillatable case actuated by said motor, anda pendulum in said case for vintermittent contact with the former and.

forminga make and break.

6. A device of thecharacter described comprising .a housing, one direction packing` means on said housing adapted to engage the wall of a well casing and prevent flow of water lupwardly above said housing. there being a passage Mextending through' said housing and said packing to permit fiow ot' water'through said housing, a current motor in said housing operable by the flow ot Water therethrough in onel direction. and

signal means actuated by said motor.

7. device of the character described comprlsing a housing, collapsible packing means on said housing adapted to engage the wall of a well casing and to prevent the flow of water upwardly about said casing.

means normally tending to collapse said-A F packing, casing engaging means to expand said packing, there being a passa-ge extending throughs housing and said packing to permit the ow'of water through sai. housing` a current motor in said housing operable by the flow of water therethrough. and signal means actuated `by said motor.

lIn witness that I claim the foregoing 'l vhave hereunto subscribed my name this 9th day of May 1921. v WALTER l. FOSTER. 

